Technoir Players Guide

PLAYER’S GUIDE

The Technoir Player’s Guide is for use with the core rules found in Technoir, a hightech hard-boiled roleplaying game by Jeremy Keller. Visit TechnoirRPG.com for more information and downloads.

CREDITS Writing, Design, Layout, Icons Jeremy Keller

Playtesting

Chris Adkins, Cam Banks, Lenny Balsera, Tracy Barnett, Daniel Bayn, Lauren DeSteno, Mark DiPasquale, Morgan Ellis, Will Hindmarch, Ben Hutchings, Brenden Johnson, Ryan Macklin, Jason Morningstar, Garret Narjes, Michelle Nephew, Sean Preston, Josh Rensch, Melissa Rensch, Colleen Riley, Kira Scott, Travis Scott, Jeff Tidball

CONTENTS

Generation.................................................. 3 Verbs........................................................... 4 Adjectives.................................................... 5 Connections................................................ 6 Objects........................................................ 7 Contention................................................ 10 Restoration............................................... 14 Notes......................................................... 15 Exposition................................................. 16

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GENERATION 1. Select three training programs

Pick three programs that your protagonist has undergone from the table below. You may pick the same program twice, but not for all three selections.

2. Determine verb ratings

Fill in the first box for each verb on your protagonist sheet. For each program, fill in an additional box for each of the three verbs it teaches.

3. Select adjectives

For each training program, select one of the listed adjectives that best describes your protagonist and write it on your sheet next to a . Or you can come up with your own. Mark both boxes next to that adjective to indicate it is locked.

4. Select three connections

Pick from the starting Transmission. Note the name and city of each connection. You can also add your fellow protagonists to your connections list.

5. Assign relationship adjectives

Go around the table. When it’s your turn, pick a relationship adjective from page “Relationship Adjectives” on page 5 and assign it to one of the characters on your connections list. Repeat as often as everyone can get a relationship adjective.

6. Purchase objects using kreds

You start with 10 Kreds. Buy objects from the catalog in this booklet by paying the listed cost. Write the object and its tags on your protagonist sheet. You can buy additional upgrade tags for 1 Kred each. Objects with the implant tag cost 5 Kreds to install. Connections with the shark, fix, chop, or splice favors can provide loans or discounts. Tell the GM whenever you call in a favor. 2 favors per connection max.

7. Finish the protagonist

Name your character. Write a short description. Start with three Push dice.

TRAINING PROGRAMS Program Bodyguard Courier Criminal Doctor Engineer Escort Investigator Pilot Soldier

Verbs (increase each by 1) Coax, Fight, and Treat Fight, Move, and Prowl Hack, Prowl, and Shoot Detect, Operate, and Treat Coax, Hack, and Operate Coax, Move, and Treat Detect, Hack, and Prowl Detect, Operate, and Shoot Fight, Move, and Shoot

Adjectives (pick one) alert, patient, or protective agile, fast, or healthy brutal, clever, or sneaky attentive, smart, or steady logical, obsessive, or technical limber, savvy, or sexy intuitive, observant, or persistent ace, quick, or spatial brave, strong, or tough

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VERBS

Verbs describe your protagonist’s ability to perform actions relevant to the criminal adventures she will become involved in. They are used to create positive and negative adjectives on other characters and their objects. Here are descriptions of the nine verbs. Listed with each are examples of adjectives it might be used to create.

Coax

Used to influence people through words and body language. Eager Supported Confident

Confused Embarrassed Shamed

Detect

Used to notice details and track people. Watched Recognized

Marked Nervous Paranoid

Fight

Used to attack bare handed and with melee weapons. Shielded

Stunned Bruised Severed

Hack

Used to access and manipulate other’s objects electronically. Monitored Secured Firewalled

Hacked Glitching Crashed

Move

Used to get around under your own power—run, swim, climb, jump. Pushed

Outpaced Sprained Broken

Operate

Used to drive vehicles, pilot aircraft, and control mobile machinery. Directed

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Shaken Dented Totalled

Prowl

Used to sneak around and get into places you are not wanted. Hidden Disguised

Distracted Oblivious Blind

Shoot

Used to attack with ranged weapons, personal or vehicle mounted. Covered

Shocked Bloody Maimed

Treat

Used to mend physical and psychological wounds. Stimulated Strong Healthy

Nauseated Poisoned Diseased

ADJECTIVES

Adjectives are traits that make you stand out. Here are a list of potential positive adjectives you could use when creating a new protagonist. You’re not required to use these, you can always make up your own. ace aggressive agile alert analytical angry artistic attentive authoritative bossy brainy brave brutal calm careful charming clever clinical

creative cute deadly detailed determined discrete empathic energetic fast fearless friendly funny handsome healthy heavy impulsive intuitive knowledgeable

Relationship Adjectives affectionate dependent loyal

lustful obsessive protective

large light limber logical loud meticulous musical obedient observant passionate patient persistent practiced precise prepared quick ruthless savvy

seductive sexy short small smart sneaky spatial steady strong stubborn stylish tall technical threatening tough twitchy unpredictable violent respectful sympathetic trusting

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CONNECTIONS

Connections are characters that your protagonist knows well. Well enough to do her a solid. They have two main functions within the game: info and favors.

INFO

Connections can provide your protagonist with information. When you lean on a connection, the GM will have you roll a die and use the result to consult the Transmission for the city the connection is in.

FAVORS

You can go to a connection for certain favors. Each connection can provide one or more of the following (as listed with their stats in the Transmission).

Chop

Sell you a stolen vehicle at an 8 Kred discount (add the stolen tag for free) or buy a stolen vehicle from you at an 8 Kred discount.

Date

Attend a function with you, gaining you access somewhere you wouldn’t be welcome otherwise.

Deal

Provide a dose of drugs. First time is free, 1 Kred thereafter. Taking them gives you the negative sticky adjective of high. Once in the next contention, you can treat all the Hurt dice of a roll as positive results. Declare after you roll.

Fence

Buy a bulk load of stolen merchandise for 5 Kreds.

Fix

Sell you up to three objects in specified categories, each discounted by 2 Kreds. Add the stolen tag to each.

Ride

Transport you, a friend, or illicit goods to a destination inside or just out of the city.

Shark

Lend you 10 Kreds, expecting repayment. Mark this in the ‘debt’ column.

Splice

Install a cybernetic object (or an object with the implant tag) for free. Note that the more you use a connection for favors, the more it will be revealed that he is involved in the ongoing plot. This may result in the connection needing you for a favor or maybe even cause him to turn against you.

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OBJECTS

Objects are your stuff. High-tech devices that gain you an advantage over the havenots. Each object has a handful of tags that describe its capabilities.

GUNS ARX-21

An assault rifle. Tags: burst fire, large, long-range, loud, stock Base Cost: 5

Barker

A heavy pistol. Tags: loud, powerful Base Cost: 2

Duster

A shotgun. Tags: loud, scattershot Base Cost: 2

Jaguar

A submachine-gun. Tags: burst fire Base Cost: 1

Stinger

A light, concealable pistol. Tags: small Base Cost: 1 Gun Upgrades: cam, derma-linked, explosive rounds, implant, laser-sight, linked, nerve-linked, scope, silencer

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WEAPONS Baton

A non-lethal weapon often carried by security personnel. Tags: blunt Base Cost: 1

Katana

A Japanese sword. Popular among ronin wannabes. Tags: deadly, sharp Base Cost: 2

Knife

A small blade that can be easily concealed. Tags: sharp, small Base Cost: 2 Weapon Upgrades: derma-linked, implant, linked, nerve-linked

ARMOR Jumpsuit

Padded overalls, covered in pockets. Tags: impact armor Base Cost: 1

Kevlar Vest

Standard issue armor for security personnel. Tags: ballistic armor Base Cost: 1

Riot Shield

Clear plastic, portable barrier. Tags: protective Base Cost: 1 Armor Upgrades: condition monitor, derma-linked, linked

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CYBERNETICS

Each object listed here costs 5 Kreds or a splice favor to surgically install.

Cyberarm

An artificial arm replacement. Tags: nerve-linked Base Cost: 1 Upgrades: agile, claws, compartment, detachable, gesture input, matched pair, quick, spring-loaded, strong, synthskin, tough

Cyberear

Electronic inner-ear replacement. Tags: nerve-linked, mic, sound Base Cost: 3 Upgrades: high-frequency, low-frequency, matched pair

Cybereye

Electronic eye replacement. Tags: cam, display, nerve-linked Base Cost: 3 Upgrades: infrared, matched pair, ocular screen, sonar-imaging, thermal-imaging

Cyberhand

An artificial hand replacement. Tags: nerve-linked Base Cost: 1 Upgrades: claws, detachable, dexterous, matched pair, strong, synthskin

Cyberleg

An artificial leg replacement. Tags: nerve-linked Base Cost: 1 Upgrades: agile, compartment, detachable, fast, matched pair, spring-loaded, strong, synthskin, tough

Headjack

A cranially implanted computing interface. Tags: cerebral input, experimental, linked, nerve-linked Base Cost: 4 Upgrades: cochlear splice, derma-linked, encryption, firewall, gustatory splice, olfactory splice, optical splice, somatic splice

Reflex Stimulators

A series of nervous-system enhancers that improve reaction time. Tags: nerve-linked, quick, reflexive Base Cost: 3 Upgrades: gesture input

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EXTERNAL COMPUTING Router Patch

A chip worn against the skin that links a derma-only network to the Interface. Tags: derma-linked, linked Base Cost: 2 Upgrades: encryption, firewall

Specks

Augmented reality Interface glasses, earbuds, and motion trackers. Tags: display, gesture input, linked, sound Base Cost: 4 Upgrades: cam, derma-linked, encryption, firewall, mic

GEAR Medkit

Tools and supplies for performing first aid on the injured or otherwise afflicted. Tags: bandages, linked, stims Base Cost: 3

Descent Line

A retractable cable designed to lower a harnessed person at a controled descent. Tags: harness, linked, retractable cable Base Cost: 3

Stealthsuit

A black bodysuit with coolant to fool thermal sensors. Tags: linked, thermal dampeners Base Cost: 2 Upgrades: condition monitor, derma-linked

VEHICLES aCar

Fully automated street vehicle. Tags: automatic, linked, passengers, spheels Base Cost: 14

Goblin

A high-performance muscle car. Tags: linked, passengers, spheels, turbo Base Cost: 14

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Hauler

Armored truck. Tags: armored, cargo, heavy, huge, linked, treads Base Cost: 16 Upgrades: burst fire, cam, cow catcher, gun, long-range, plow, riot-hose

SkyRabbit

A high-speed dual-rotor-fan helicopter. Tags: cam, linked, rotor-fans, thrusters Base Cost: 14 Upgrades: burst fire, gun, long-range

Switchblade

An agile, uni-spheel motorcycle. Tags: 3D-shocks, linked, spheels, turbo Base Cost: 14

DRONES Buzzer

Rotor-powered drone. Tags: cam, linked, mic, rotorfan Base Cost: 4 Upgrades: burst fire, gun, infrared, sonar-imaging, thermal-imaging

Griller

A mini-tank. Tags: armored, cam, linked, mic, robot arm, treads Base Cost: 6 Upgrades: burst fire, gun, long-range

Spyder

Robotic arthropod. Tags: adhesive legs, cam, linked, mic, small Base Cost: 5 Upgrades: syringe

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TAGS

Tags describe the capabilities and features of objects. Here are definitions of each of the tags listed with the objects in the previous section. 3D-shocks: a 2-axis suspension system adhesive legs: articulate limbs that allow drones to climb up walls (requires small) agile: flexible limb articulation that can perform complicated positioning armor-piercing: fires ammunition designed to penetrate ballistic armor armored: a thick shell that protects from ballistic and impact attacks automatic: designed to self-navigate city streets ballistic armor: protective garments designed to stop bullets bandages: cloth or spray to bind wounds blunt: a weapon designed to inflict crushing trauma on its target burst fire: sprays a cluster of bullets (requires gun category or tag) cam: bi-lens camera system capturing stereoscopic eyeRez video images cargo: can be used to transport large, heavy crates cerebral input: direct mental control of the Interface (trumps gesture input) claws: small blades that extend from the fingertips or knuckles cochlear splice: electronic connection to the ears (trumps mic, sound) compartment: a small, hidden storage space in an artificial limb condition monitor: sensors to track heart rate, pulse, and other vitals cow catcher: attaches to the front of a vehicle to push away obstacles deadly: a weapon designed to inflict fatal wounds derma-linked: personal network connection conducted by the skin detachable: can disconnect from a socket and be reconnected later dexterous: limb articulation with precise control display: high resolution imaging projected into the viewer’s vision encryption: protects stored data from being read or manipulated experimental: state-of-the-art but untested technology explosive rounds: fires rounds that explode on impact fast: limb articulation for rapid movement over ground firewall: protective software to prevent hacking gesture input: captures body movement to interact with the Interface gun: adds a mounted firearm to a vehicle or drone gustatory splice: electronic connection to the nerves that handle taste harness: straps and rigging worn to suspend the wearer comfortably heavy: weighs more than other objects in its category huge: significantly larger than other objects in its category (trumps large) impact armor: protective garments designed to stop blunt and sharp attacks implant: an object not puposefully cybernetic is installed inside the body infrared: senses light beyond the human-visible spectrum large: bigger than other objects in its category laser-sight: projects a harmless laser for accurate aiming linked: wireless connection to personal and Interface networks long-range: fires projectiles over long distances (requires gun category or tag) loud: makes a high volume, imposing noise

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Some tags mention that they trump other tags. This means the other tag can’t be used to react against an action from the trumping tag. matched pair: the object comes with an mirrored twin mic: a sensitive omni-directional microphone nerve-linked: network conducted via the nervous system (implanted objects only) ocular screen: a high resolution video display on the surface of the eyes olfactory splice: electronic connection to the nerves that handle smell optical splice: electronic connection to the eyes (trumps cam, display) passengers: can transport more people than just a pilot/copilot plow: attached to the front of a vehicle to push away snow or other debris powerful: a gun that fires high-caliber rounds protective: a barrier to shield the user from attacks quick: limb articulation that moves rapidly within one’s personal space reach: a melee weapon that is longer than most reflexive: stimulates the user to react rapidly to stimuli retractable cable: a length of steel cable that winds up with a small motor riot-hose: a non-lethal weapon to push back pedestrians robot arm: an articulate limb controlled remotely rotor-fan(s): rotor blades housed in a cylindrical shell scattershot: sprays projectiles in a widening pattern (requires gun category or tag) scope: an aiming mechanism with zoom lenses sharp: designed to cut or pierce a target silencer: gun attachment that dampens noise (incompatible with burst fire, loud, scattershot) small: reduced in size, generally concealable somatic splice: electronic connection to the skin (trumps touch feedback) sonar-imaging: emits and senses sound waves, presents data visually sound: three-dimensional, immersive audio playback spheels: spherical wheels that allow 360-degree maneuverability spring-loaded: stores kinetic energy to be released at an opportune time stims: a dosage of steroids to jumpstart the adrenaline system stock: an attachment for a gun to help hold it steady against the shoulder strong: limb articulation that can apply great force synthskin: artificial dermal layer that imitates human skin syringe: a needle that can deliver a dose of a drug thermal dampeners: coolant used to fool thermal sensors thermal-imaging: heat sensors displayed as a visual overlay thrown: a weapon that is hurled at a target thrusters: jets that provide increased speed in the air treads: traction system to provide mobility over rough terrain touch feedback: gives a tactile response to Interface interaction tough: can endure large amounts of wear and impact toxin-filter: scrubs harmful chemicals from airways or bloodstream turbo: engine enhancement that provides increased speed over smooth streets

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CONTENTION 1. Recharge Push dice

€€ The player starts an action with all of her Push dice charged.

2. Assemble the dice

€€ The player gets a number of Action dice equal to her rating in the verb she is using. €€ She can add a Push die for each postive adjective, object, or tag that helps her. €€ She must take a Hurt die for each negative adjective she has.

3. Describe the action

€€ The player uses her verb, adjectives, objects, and tags to inspire a narrative of the action that would assert the intended adjective on her target.

4. Roll the dice

€€ The player rolls all of her Action, Push, and Hurt dice. €€ The Hurt dice cancel out any and all matching Action and Push dice. €€ The highest number on her surviving Action or Push dice is her result.

5. Determine Reaction

€€ The verb the target uses to react determines his reaction rating. €€ For each, positive adjective, object, or tag that helps him, he can discharge a Push die and increase his reaction rating by 1.

6. Resolve the roll

€€ If the player’s result is higher than the target’s reaction rating, her action is effective.

7. Apply the adjective

€€ With an effective action, the player asserts a new adjective on the target. €€ By default the adjective is fleeting. €€ She can spend 1 Push die from her rolled dice to make it sticky. €€ She can spend 2 Push dice to make it locked.

8. Discharge Push dice

€€ Any Push dice left in the player’s roll are discharged.

9. Respect the adjective

€€ Play continues with the new adjective representing a change in the narrative.

LETHAL CONSEQUENCES

After any scene in which you received an adjective that describes physical damage, roll a Hurt die for each sticky or locked negative adjective that applies to your character directly. If you roll a 6, you receive the sticky negative adjective of dying. If you roll two or more 6s, you receive the locked negative adjective of dead. Both adjectives can be recovered from using the rules on the following page.

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RESTORATION

After a contention, use this procedure to mend negative adjectives and advance your protagonist’s verbs.

Fleeting Adjectives are immediately removed

€€ After a scene is over, any fleeting adjectives go away right away.

Sticky Adjectives require mending

€€ To remove a sticky adjective that describes physical, emotional, or social damage to your protagonist, make a Treat roll. €€ To remove a sticky adjective that describes damage to an object’s hardware, make an Operate roll. For software, make a Hack roll.

Locked Adjectives require replacement surgery

€€ For a locked adjective that describes physical, emotional, or social loss to your protagonist, implant an object that replaces what has been lost. This downgrades the adjective to sticky, which can be mended as above. €€ For a locked adjective that describes damage to an object, pay half the object’s full cost for replacement parts. This downgrades the adjective to sticky, which can be mended as above. (Or you can always obtain a whole new object.)

Roll the dice

€€ Whoever is making the roll adds a Hurt die for each of their own negative adjectives and one for each of the negative adjectives of their patient. €€ If the patient is attempting to improve one of their primed verbs, they should indicate which one before a roll is made. €€ The difficulty rating is 4.

Resolve the roll

€€ If the roll’s result is higher than the difficulty rating, the adjective is eliminated. €€ If the roll’s result is equal or less than the difficulty rating, the adjective remains. Another attempt cannot be made until the character received another sticky or locked adjective. €€ If one of the Hurt dice results is higher than the primed verb that is intended for advancement, the verb’s rating increases by 1. Not to exceed 5. €€ If the verb increases, any and all prime marks are erased. €€ If the verb does not increase, all existing prime marks remain.

RECOVERY TIME

€€ When a replacement part is implanted to downgrade a locked adjective to sticky, the character needs about 48 hours of recovery time. €€ After a treat roll is made to remove a sticky adjective, the character needs about 24 hours of recovery time. €€ Repaired or reprogrammed objects only need a few hours to peform the necessary fixes.

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EXPOSITION

It’s like we’re living in the future...

TECHNOLOGY

The city streets buzz with illusory neon lines, animated, playing out just over the grimy surface. The Internet’s gotten too big for any screen, so they feed it right to your eyeballs. You see it everywhere. It spills out onto the streets. It guides selfdriving cars through automated intersections. It’s the cartoon some kid wears to school. It’s your personal shopper. We wear the hardware that runs it: in the glasses that let you see it, the chip sewn into your jeans, the electronics of your prosthetic leg. They’re all linked together in a living, thrumming network that spans the world. They call it the Interface. We call it the Big Lie.

ENVIRONMENT

Under all those pretty graphics, the city is dirtier than ever. Soot floats in from the deregulated coal plant; it cakes over everything. The weather is less predictable than ever. Wind and rain, then a drought, then a blizzard, then a hurricane. Hell is swelling up around us and we don’t seem to care. We’ll burn those carbon fuels as long as the corporate-sponsored wars keep winning what’s left of them. We’ll do it until we choke on the smog.

SOCIETY

The rich are opulent. The poor are decrepit. There isn’t much left between. Record numbers of the city’s population are unemployed. When robotics do the blue-collar jobs and software handles the white-collar ones, what’s a flesh body to do? Join a corporate army and get shipped off overseas. Send the paycheck home so the family can buy useless, corporate crap or lose it to the rampant runs of criminals. Criminals like you.

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